Back / lumbar spine Board decisions

The Board has determined that the Veteran's lumbar spine disorder and acquired psychiatric disorder (to include PTSD) are related to his service, specifically his periods of INACDUTRA from January 2010 to September 2010, and ACDUTRA from March 7, 2011, to March 19, 2011. The Board found that the evidence is in relative equipoise as to whether these conditions are related to service.

The Board has remanded the case for additional development, including obtaining medical records and scheduling a VA examination. The Veteran's claims for service connection for left hip disability, right hip disability, and low back disability are being reviewed.

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities did not prevent him from securing or following a substantially gainful occupation.

The Board denied reopening the claim of service connection for the cause of the Veteran's death due to lack of new and material evidence, as all submitted evidence was either cumulative or redundant.

The Veteran's claim for an initial disability rating in excess of 20 percent for service-connected degenerative disc disease (DDD) of the cervical spine is being remanded due to a previous inadequate VA examination. The case will be processed again with an appropriate VA examination.

The Board does not have jurisdiction over the issue of service connection for a right leg disorder secondary to service-connected ddd of the lumbar spine. The appeal is dismissed.

The Board has determined that there is no evidence of a current right hand, headache, or lumbar spine disability and finds the preponderance of the evidence against service connection for these conditions.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's low back and right knee disabilities are related to service, resulting in a grant of service connection for both conditions.,Both low back degenerative disc disease and right knee traumatic degenerative joint disease were found to be incurred during active duty.

The Veteran's claim for a higher initial rating for PTSD has been granted, with the disability rated at 70 percent from April 8, 2008 to September 15, 2009 and from November 1, 2009 to July 28, 2011. Service connection for chloracne, lumbar spine degenerative disc disease, right knee osteoarthritis, and chin scar have been reopened.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's current lumbar spine disorder is not related to his military service and therefore denied his claim for service connection.

The Veteran's appeal is being remanded for additional development, including a VA examination to assess the severity of his service-connected lumbar spine disability and whether referral for extraschedular evaluation is warranted. The TDIU claim will also be remanded for compliance with the May 2014 Board remand instructions.

The Veteran's service-connected lumbosacral strain, right lower extremity neuropathy, and left lower extremity neuropathy are rated at the maximum available disability ratings. The Veteran is also entitled to a TDIU based on his service-connected disabilities.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's hearing loss and tinnitus are related to service, while his other conditions have not been established as being due to or a result of service.

The Board found that the Veteran's cervical spine disability, characterized by pain and decreased range of motion, did not meet or approximate the criteria for a rating in excess of 20 percent.

The Veteran withdrew his appeal, resulting in the dismissal of the case.

The Board has remanded the case due to inadequate examination and need for further development of the record.

The Veteran's appeal is remanded due to the need for additional medical examination and consideration of all pertinent evidence. The issues include increased ratings for his cervical spine disability, left upper extremity neurological impairment, and right upper extremity neurological impairment.

The Board found that new and material evidence had not been received to reopen the claim for service connection for a low back disability, thus denying the reopening of the claim.

The Board has granted service connection for low back and cervical spine disabilities. The Veteran's left knee disability is being remanded due to the need for a medical opinion regarding its relationship to her right knee disability.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for a lumbar spine disability, finding that there was no evidence of pre-existing lumbar pathology in his prior service and that any current condition is not related to active duty.